The film cannot decide when it is supposed to be set. The use of cheap stock footage does not help. The script is a dud.

On the other hand, most of the cast are quite decent, and the photography is surprisingly good. It's just a shame the other aspects of the film are not so good.

Reviewer:Dark Moon -
-
December 3, 2011 Subject:
Stereotype of a different color

About half way through the film, check out the little peddler with his yiddishkeit accent, straight off the shtetl. After looking through the window and making lots of sour faces, he resolves to stop in at the "Gold Nugget Cafe" and have himself a slice of ham. It might not be quite kosher, but a man's gotta eat, right? There's been a few comments in various reviews about ugly racial stereotypes in these early films. Isn't it nice to know they didn't save this drek just for the sch…ahem.

Well, now that I've seen the rest of the film… Going undercover (and even to prison) to infiltrate an elusive gang isn't a Suspension of Disbelief breaker, not when the feds have to be brought in to break the case. The overall plot seemed fine, but it was in the execution of the details that the story fell apart for me. It was that, plus the many awkward scenes with stilted dialogue that was the deal-breaker. I grew up with the old westerns through television reruns, and still enjoy a well-made one. I've also seen many westerns from the 30's and 40's here on IA. Unfortunately, this film failed me in the basic art of credible storytelling.

The reviewer below sums up many of the main parts of the movie. It does, however, have a reasonable plot and acting for the typical western of the 1930's. Johnny Mack Brown does his usual good guy role. There are many horses racing from one place to another, which lengthens the movie time and in some cases adds to the suspense. This movie is not for everyone, but is good if the viewer likes old time westerns.

A gang of cowboys attempt to rob a stage of its loot. Problem is, someone has beaten them to it! Thus begins Rogue on the Range, a terribly convoluted Western that adds hilarity onto preposterous undertakings. You see, the reason why the cowboy, Dan Doran robbed it first, is to get DELIBRATELY put in jail, that way he can infiltrate the gang who tried to rob the stage in the first place? After being put in jail, he busts out and THAT impresses the gang, who hire him on the spot when he comes back! Oh, did I not mention he was a G-Man? As you can probably tell, this thing is highly ridiculous and improbable. Why would someone go through so much trouble? It almost feels like too much trouble slagging through this.